Convento de Santo Tomás (Madrid)

The defunct Convento de Santo Tomás (also called Colegio de Atocha) was a set of buildings belonging to the Dominicans, under the patronage of St. Thomas Aquinas, in Madrid.

It was located in the former Arrabal de Santa Cruz, showing its main facade to the Calle de Atocha. Its exact location is close to the current Plaza de Santa Cruz, occupying part of the site of the current Church of la Santa Cruz.

It was erected in the mid-17th century, being a good example of Spanish Baroque architecture. The convent had annex a cabinet for the teaching of theology, philosophy and rhetoric (College of Santo Tomás), initially dependent of the Dominicans of Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Atocha. The set consisted of a monastery that served as school functions, a courtyard and a large church.

In 1836 during the Spanish confiscation church and convent were secularized and confiscated, going to have many uses, from administrative center to Milicia Nacional headquarters. Three years after suffering a strong fire the complex entirely disappeared, which occurred in 1872. The early iglesia de la Santa Cruz, built in 16th century (1583), attached to the Convento de Santo Tomas, also was affected by the fire.